Blog Posts From Curator of Micropalaeontology's blog Tagged With challenger_collectionhttp://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo
This is Giles Miller's Curator of Micropalaeontology blog. I make the Museum micropalaeontology collections available to visitors from all over the world, publish articles on the collections, give public talks and occasionally make collections myself.Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:18:10 GMTJive SBS 4.5.6.0 (http://jivesoftware.com/products/clearspace/)2011-11-25T16:18:10ZCan a trip to Wandsworth help quantify ocean acidification?http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/2011/12/13/can-a-trip-to-wandsworth-help-quantify-ocean-acidification
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:8c42d8c9-adf7-4de1-8fd7-8406b079eb18] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7933589.stm">Ocean acidification</a> is one of the major effects of increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere caused by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas). Museum collections of samples from the ocean bottom worldwide are housed at our Wandsworth outstation and are vital to working out how much more acidic the oceans have become since the 19th Century and to helping create models for future changes.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-2081-24760/DSCF1355_blog.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1355_blog.jpg" class="jive-image" height="337" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-2081-24760/450-337/DSCF1355_blog.jpg" width="450"/></a></p><p><span style="color: #000080;">Three bottles of ocean sediment collected in 1891 as part of the H.M.S. Penguin cruise to the Mediterranean</span></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Our outstation at Wandsworth holds the Mineralogy Department's Ocean Bottom Sediment Collection. These are sediment samples from many cruises including the first oceanographic voyage the <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_expedition"><span style="color: #228900;">Challenger Expedition</span></a> of 1872-1876. I <a class="jive-link-blog-small" href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/2011/09/19/a-new-way-to-look-at-microscopic-collections">mentioned previously</a> that we hold residues including microfossils at South Kensington so why are these bottles of sediment at Wandsworth of interest to micropalaeontologists?</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Potentially these bottles contain many thousands of microfossils (the ones above mention the foraminferal genus <em>Globigerina</em>) and as a result, they have been of interest for two PhD students studying the effects of ocean acidification on micro-organisms.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-2081-24761/DSCF1356_blog.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1356_blog.jpg" class="jive-image" height="600" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-2081-24761/450-600/DSCF1356_blog.jpg" width="450"/></a></p><p><span style="color: #000080;">Open University PhD student Kate Salmon accessing the Ocean Bottom Sediment Collection at the Museum outstation at Wandsworth. Curator Dave Smith is in the background.</span></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Kate Salmon is using mainly foraminiferal microfossils to measure the scale of ocean acidification in the area around Bermuda. To do this she is studying samples collected every 2 weeks for the past 20-30 years in sediment traps on the ocean bottom.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>The weights and shell thicknesses of these micro-organisms that use the ocean water to produce their shells of calcium carbonate should be different in pre-industrial samples. If ocean acidification is happening we should see lighter more fragile shells in the present day. Kate is using the Ocean Bottom Sediment Collection at the Museum to find comparative material from pre-industrial times.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Kate recently told me, 'If I do the same shell analyses on these samples, it will give a good comparison of low carbon dioxide conditions with higher carbon dioxide conditions (present day) and I will be able to see how conditions have changed for the calcifying biology of the oceans. I can then use these results to predict any future changes in the calcification of foraminifera and the implications this will have for other creatures living in the water column'.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-2081-24762/DSCF1346_blog.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1346_blog.jpg" class="jive-image" height="337" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-2081-24762/450-337/DSCF1346_blog.jpg" width="450"/></a></p><p><span style="color: #000080;">Part of the residue collection from the H.M.S. Penguin expedition collected in 1891.</span></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p><span>Ella Howes, a student at the </span><span lang="EN-GB">Laboratoire d'Oc&eacute;anographie de Villefranche sur Mer, France approached us to see if we had any sediment including the remains of tiny organisms called pteropods. These are small planktonic gastropods (floating snails) that have been used extensively in ocean acidification studies. Ella has recent material from near Bear Island in the Mediterranean and wants to compare the composition and structure of these faunas prior to major industrial activity.</span></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>She is searching for a particular pteropod species <em>Limacina helicina</em> as well as foraminifera. As with Kate Salmon, she is looking to make measurements of shell thickness to assess possible outcomes of ocean acidification between the Mediterranean and colder water areas. <br/> </p><p>'In Polar regions the cold temperatures allow increased carbon dioxide in water, potentially causing more extreme repercussions for animals living in these areas. A geographical comparison between the effects on ocean acidification on shell thickness in Polar pteropods and the warmer Mediterranean Sea will be undertaken using modern samples of <em>Limacina helicina</em> and old sediment samples provided by the Natural History Museum' says Ella.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-2081-24759/DSCF1343_blog.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1343_blog.jpg" class="jive-image-thumbnail jive-image" height="599" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-2081-24759/450-599/DSCF1343_blog.jpg" width="450"/></a></p><p><span style="color: #003366;">Part of one of four rows of cabinets containing the Ocean Bottom Sediment Collection at the Museum.</span></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>When you consider the quantity of material at our Wandsworth outstation, there is limitless potential for similar studies to be carried out. There are literally millions of micro-organsims from the ocean bottom waiting to be studied. <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/historical-marine-collections/nhm-collections/index.html">Listings</a> of these collections can be found on the Museum web site. In the meantime, I will wait with interest to hear from Kate and Ella if a trip to Wandsworth can help quantify ocean acidification.</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:8c42d8c9-adf7-4de1-8fd7-8406b079eb18] -->ocean_acidificationpalaeontologyforaminiferabermudachallenger_collectionchallenger_expedition_1872-1876dave_smithlimacina_helicinaella_howesmediterraneanhms_penguinocean_bottom_sediment_collectionkate_salmonglobigerinapteropodsarcticTue, 13 Dec 2011 16:51:30 GMThttp://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/2011/12/13/can-a-trip-to-wandsworth-help-quantify-ocean-acidificationGiles Miller2011-12-13T16:51:30Z3 years, 4 months ago0http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/comment/can-a-trip-to-wandsworth-help-quantify-ocean-acidificationhttp://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/feeds/comments?blogPost=2081A new way to look at microscopic collectionshttp://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/2011/09/19/a-new-way-to-look-at-microscopic-collections
<!-- [DocumentBodyStart:69b656b0-5f9b-4594-b67c-197e56347a6d] --><div class="jive-rendered-content"><p>A couple of weeks ago we processed a loan to Prof. Dil Joseph and his team at the <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://ece.engineering.ualberta.ca/">Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering</a> at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. They have developed a new method for imaging microfossils under a light microscope called <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.engineering.ualberta.ca/NewsEvents/Engineering%20News/2011/08/Engineeringresearchersdevelopanewwaytoexaminefossilsin3D.aspx">Virtual Reflected Light Microscopy</a> (VRLM). As well as being a novel use for some of our historical residue collections, this potentially provides an interactive method for viewing our collections in 3-D on-line and could greatly aid future users of our collections.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-1975-21309/110831-VLRM760x380.jpg"><img alt="110831-VLRM760x380.jpg" class="jive-image-thumbnail jive-image" height="225" onclick="" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-1975-21309/450-225/110831-VLRM760x380.jpg" width="450"/></a></p><p><span style="color: #000080;">Cindy Wong, Adam Harrison and Dr Dileepan Joseph of the University of Alberta (photo courtesy of Ryan Heise, Communications Officer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta)</span></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>VLRM involves photographing microfossils under many different light conditions and from many different angles so that 3-D images can be built up. The team has also developed software to deliver these images to the web via an interactive interface that allows users to digitally manipulate specimens. A <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://129.128.209.97/vrlm/">demo</a> of VLRM can be found on-line and 3-D images can be obtained with the help of red-cyan glasses.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>In normal circumstances we would make 2 dimensional images of specimens with either a light microscope or with a scanning electron microscope. These would be sent to enquirers about the collections. If possible, scientists would prefer to visit the Museum as they would normally need to manipulate specimens to see features that would not always be visible from 2 dimensional images. VLRM potentially recreates that visitor interaction with the specimens remotely on-line.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-1975-21486/DSCF1090_blog.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1090_blog.jpg" class="jive-image" height="400" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-1975-21486/300-400/DSCF1090_blog.jpg" width="300"/></a><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-1975-21487/DSCF1094_blog.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1094_blog.jpg" class="jive-image" height="400" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-1975-21487/300-400/DSCF1094_blog.jpg" width="300"/></a></p><p><span style="color: #000080;">Part of the ocean bottom microfossil residue collection housed in the Department of Palaeontology.</span></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>The team have borrowed some of our most significant microfossil residues to test their system and develop future applications. These residues come mainly from the H.M.S. Challenger Collection. The <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_expedition">Challenger Expedition</a> of 1872-1876 was the first oceanographic voyage. Prior to this, the ocean bottom was completely unexplored so these residues represent a 'first ever glimpse' of the bottom of the worlds oceans.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>All of the organisms discovered during this first dredging of the ocean bottoms, including the microfossils, were described resulting in many new species being found. The foraminiferal type specimens of many of these species are housed here in the Museum and are frequently consulted by visitors. When a new species is described, a type specimen must be designated and deposited in a recognised museum so that future workers can consult them if neccessary.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-1975-21489/_DSC3559_blog.jpg"><img alt="_DSC3559_blog.jpg" class="jive-image" height="301" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-1975-21489/450-301/_DSC3559_blog.jpg" width="450"/></a></p><p><span style="color: #000080;">A type slide from the Challenger Foraminifera Collection. It is 7.5cm long.</span></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>As the research is being done in North America, it was topical that we also loaned a residue from the <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Albatross_(1882)">Second Albatross Cruise</a> of 1882. The Albatross was reportedly one of the the first vessels built for oceanographic studies and made its maiden voyage from Washington.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Dil Joseph's team in Edmonton have already published on computer aided recognition of foraminifera. It will be very interesting to see how historically significant materials from our collections play a part in future research on this subject. Work on <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.engineering.ualberta.ca/NewsEvents/Engineering%20News/2011/08/Engineeringresearchersdevelopanewwaytoexaminefossilsin3D.aspx">Virtual Reflected Light Microscopy</a> certainly looks to revolutionise how data on microfossil collections will be shared and how we make our collections available in the future.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&#160;</p><p>Special thanks to Lil Stevens who processed this loan. She has now joined the full time curatorial staff and is helping out with micropalaeontology curation.</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:69b656b0-5f9b-4594-b67c-197e56347a6d] -->foraminiferatype_specimenostracodsalbatross_1882challenger_collectionvrlmchallenger_expedition_1872-1876cindy_wongprof_dil_josephvirtual_reflected_light_microscopyadam_harrisonMon, 19 Sep 2011 12:42:24 GMThttp://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/2011/09/19/a-new-way-to-look-at-microscopic-collectionsGiles Miller2011-09-19T12:42:24Z3 years, 6 months ago0http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/comment/a-new-way-to-look-at-microscopic-collectionshttp://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/micropalaeo/feeds/comments?blogPost=1975